Miles City Community Garden – Miles City by Amanda Breitbach Ragsdale
More than 50 gardeners joined the Miles City Community Garden for its first growing season in 2011. Formed by a group of interested volunteers with the assistance of the Custer County Extension Agents Christina McRae and Tara Andrews, the garden is intended to provide a community space for beginner and experienced gardeners to grow together. The garden is located on a plot of land
in Miles City that was donated by Holy Rosary Healthcare. Volunteers contributed time, labor, and materials to plow and prepare the space and to install an irrigation system. A variety of businesses and organizations also came together to support the effort, and the group was awarded a number of grants to develop the project. Plans are still in the works for a protective deer fence and a shed to house communal tools. Most gardeners pay a nominal fee for a plot, but plots are also available at no cost to low-income families, non-profit organizations, and civic groups. As the garden grows, organizers also plan to take advantage of educational opportunities for students, families, and others to learn about gardening and nutrition. Custer County Extension has supported the garden through organizational and administrative services, as well as through grant writing. Staff also plan educational programs for 4-H clubs and others during the summer.